1994 Mercedes S 280 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1994 perform at MOT as they age

32 years

Current Age

79.4%

Latest Pass Rate

633

Total Tests (All Years)

113,145 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for S 280

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1994 Mercedes S 280 as it ages.

15 yrs63.1%

→ ↓4.2%

16 yrs58.9%

→ ↑4.7%

17 yrs63.6%

→ ↓1.8%

18 yrs61.8%

→ ↓1.5%

19 yrs60.3%

→ ↑5.7%

20 yrs66.0%

→ ↑3.6%

21 yrs69.6%

→ ↓8.1%

22 yrs61.5%

→ ↑17.9%

23 yrs79.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
15 yrs	63.1%	130
16 yrs	58.9%	112
17 yrs	63.6%	88
18 yrs	61.8%	76
19 yrs	60.3%	58
20 yrs	66.0%	50
21 yrs	69.6%	46
22 yrs	61.5%	39
23 yrs	79.4%	34

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1994 Mercedes S 280 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (23 yrs)	79.4%	34
2016 (22 yrs)	61.5%	39
2015 (21 yrs)	69.6%	46
2014 (20 yrs)	66%	50
2013 (19 yrs)	60.3%	58
2012 (18 yrs)	61.8%	76
2011 (17 yrs)	63.6%	88
2010 (16 yrs)	58.9%	112
2009 (15 yrs)	63.1%	130

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

63.1%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 130Avg Mileage 125,548Top Failure Brakes — 22.3%

2010High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 112Avg Mileage 123,720Top Failure Suspension — 22.3%

2011High Fail Rate

63.6%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 88Avg Mileage 114,631Top Failure Brakes — 17.0%

2012High Fail Rate

61.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 76Avg Mileage 114,090Top Failure Brakes — 22.4%

2013High Fail Rate

60.3%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 58Avg Mileage 114,482Top Failure Brakes — 48.3%

2014

66.0%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 50Avg Mileage 112,154Top Failure Suspension — 70.0%

2015

69.6%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 46Avg Mileage 111,728Top Failure Brakes — 45.7%

2016High Fail Rate

61.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 39Avg Mileage 117,285Top Failure Suspension — 38.5%

2017

79.4%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 34Avg Mileage 113,145Top Failure Suspension — 61.8%

MOT results for 1994 Mercedes S 280 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	15	63.1%	130	125,548	Brakes — 22.3%
2010	16	58.9%	112	123,720	Suspension — 22.3%
2011	17	63.6%	88	114,631	Brakes — 17.0%
2012	18	61.8%	76	114,090	Brakes — 22.4%
2013	19	60.3%	58	114,482	Brakes — 48.3%
2014	20	66.0%	50	112,154	Suspension — 70.0%
2015	21	69.6%	46	111,728	Brakes — 45.7%
2016	22	61.5%	39	117,285	Suspension — 38.5%
2017	23	79.4%	34	113,145	Suspension — 61.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1994 Mercedes S 280, with age trends.

Suspension

35.5%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

28.2%

— Consistent

Brakes

27.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

23.0%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

18.0%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	21.5% (15 yrs)	61.8% (23 yrs)	+40.3%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	22.3% (15 yrs)	8.8% (23 yrs)	-13.5%	🟢 ↓
Driver's View of the Road	11.5% (15 yrs)	8.8% (23 yrs)	-2.7%	🟢 ↓
Tyres	16.9% (15 yrs)	14.7% (23 yrs)	-2.2%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

← Back to Mercedes S 280 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes S 280 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes S 280 cars manufactured in 1994 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 633 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.